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AZZA Fusion 3000 Review

Conclusion:

I managed to conduct the entire review and testing without knowing the MSRP of the AZZA Fusion 3000. Upon hearing that this case is $179.99, well that's when the head scratching began, and here is why. Last week in my opening volley for a review of a different case, I made the observation from my experience with cases as an entity, that you can usually pinpoint the exact place in the design where the designers ran out out of price point working room. This case seems to be the epitome of that theory. I have spent 27 years in business and one of the first things I learned was the old adage "price, quality, service...pick two." While many corporations have attempted to circumvent that reality with pithy phrases and rhetoric, it still holds true today...maybe now more than ever, since vertical integration is a distant memory.

The problem for AZZA and the Fusion 3000 is two fold from my perspective. First, it is trying to be everything to everybody and second, it places itself right in the middle of the most fiercely competitive price range for enthusiast cases. As a result, there is a lot of innovation and value being offered just on either side of the $180 mark. For example, the Fusion 3000 faces competition with the Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced, which is $20.00 less, includes three 200mm+ fans, and has nearly all the same amenities. Also at the same price point or even slightly less, it competes with entire Silverstone Raven series. Both of these include fans beyond the standard front intake or rear exhaust and are constructed with better fit and finish than the Fusion 3000. Because of this, the lack of included fans is a bit puzzling. The Fusion 3000 has places for for two 230mm fans and 3 x 120mm or 7 x 120/140mm fans, yet none of them are included. You could easily spend upwards of $80 to add the fans necessary to get this case to its intended airflow. If you are getting the impression that I do not like this enclosure, that is just not the case, no pun intended. I just think that AZZA faces some fierce competition and ingenuity in the $180.00 price range and has spread itself a bit thin trying to please everyone with features that are simply not followed through to a point that some enthusiasts will find satisfactory.